Feeding machine



I 1,622,836 March 29, 1927. s MADSEN FEEDING MACHINE Filed Aprii 25.- 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 1 78 I I Mm March v29, 1927. s. MADSEN.

FEEDING MACHINE Filed April 23. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill Q a g a D em" n A m Q P I 7 v f x m (A Q 1 Iruventar & 207/ m March 29,1927. W m ,836

. 5. MAQSEIE FEEDING MACHINE V Filed April 25, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet flan Z62" 1/1216 5am Maw S. MADSEN FEEDING MACHINE Filed April 23; 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 M f WE s. MADSEN FEEDING MACHINE March 29 1927.

Filed April 23, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SEEN MADSEN, 0 CLINTON, IOVI'A, ASSIG-NOR I'D CURTIS COMPANIES, INCORPO- RATED, OE CLINTON, IOW'A.

FEEDING MACHINE,

Application filed April 23, 1924. Serial No. 708,483.

My invention relates to a feeding machine for door stickers and the like.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a feeding machine, which will be used between two wood working machines, such for instance as a double-end tenoning ma chine and a door sticking machine, and will function for takin' the stock from the tenoning machine and iteeding it to the sticking machine.

The object of my invention is to provide such a feeding machine, having parts so constructed and arranged as to be adjusted for receiving and handling stock of ditl'erent lengths, thicknesses and widths.

A further object is to provide s ch a machine, whereby stock may be fed to either of the two sets oi? cutter heads in a sticking machine.

Another object is to provide in the feeding machine, mechanism for handling stock, so that it two pieces ott stock are fed to the -feeding machine at once, they will be separated and fed one at a time to the sticking machine.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my feeding machine, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinutter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a feedin g machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the rear or receiving end of the machine.

Figure 3 shows a rear elevation 01' the mas chine.

Figure 4 is a cletaihsectional view taken on the line l i otFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse, sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Ihigure 6 is a detailview of part of the stock handling mechanism.

Figure '7 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 7? of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 1 Figure 9 is a detail, side elevation of part oi? the mechanism for feeding the stock trom the feeding machine to the sticking machine.

Figure 10 shows a detail, sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure 9, illustrating part of the mechanism for feeding the stock from the feeding machine to the st cking machine; and

i lgllle 11 shows a detail, sideelevation or part or the mechanism for the receiving end 01 the device, the view being taken from the opposite side of the machine, as shown in Figure In a general way, it may be said that this mach ne is adapted to receive stock from a tenoning machine and to carry it on carrier bars by means of chains arranged above the carr er bars up said carrier bars, which are inclmed. The stock is then discharged from the carrier bars upon a pentagonal drum or reel. 'lhis reel is geared to rotate in either direction for discharging into either of the two troughs located on opposite sides of the reel.

in the bottom of the troughs are conveyor chains arranged to travel at substantially right angles to the direction of the travel or the stock up the carrier bars. The stock is ted from the chains in the troughs by feed rollers to the sticking machine.

Mechanism for receiving the stock from the teagmng machme and advancing it to' the rec The feeding machine of the present invention is designed to be connected with a tenonmg machine of the type used in tenoning the ends oi door frame members.

in the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the frame of the tenoning machine. Mounted on the forward end of the tenonmg machine is a transverse shaft 11 on which are sprocket wheels 12 for the chains 13 r the tenoning machine.

it may be said in this connection that one of the chains oi the tenoning machine, indicated at B in FigureQ, is arranged to be laterally adjustable in the manner not here particularly referred to, because the tenonmg machine in itself forms no part of my present invention.

'ihe tenoning machine has laterally adjusted frame parts 14-. The feeding machine has a frame 15, shown for instance in F1gure3, which is designed and used to-be spaced from the frame 10 01 the tenonin machine. The frame 15 has upwardly ex tending brackets 16 in which a shaft 17 is journaled.

The portion of the feeding machine now being described, which receives the stock from the tenoning machine consists in a general way of a pair of bars inclined upwardly and away from the tenoning machine. The stock is designed to be slid upwardly on these bars. One of the bars is laterally adjustable for accommodating the feeding machine to stock of different lengths.

The stock is carried up the bars by a pair of chains arranged above the bars and provided with downwardly projecting lingers for engaging the stock.

On the fixed frame 10 ofthe tenoning machine is a bracket 18, shown in Figure 3, which has a bearing for the shaft 11 heretofore referred to. This bracket has a foriva-rdly extending arm 19 provided with a horizontally elongated slot 20, shown in Figure 3.

A casting 21, shown in Figure 3, has fixed thereto a laterally projecting spindle 22, for one of the sprockets 23 for one of the stock adt "ancing chains of the feeding machine.

The casting 21 is fixed to an angle iron 24 inclined upwardly toward the shaft 1? and having at its upper end a journal 25 for the shaft 17. The angle bar 24 constitutes a radius rod, for maintaining the distance between the centers of the sprockets on which travel the left-hand chain of the stock advancing means of the feeding machine.

On the shaft 17 in line with the sprocket 23 is a sprocket 26. A chain 27 travels on the sprockets 23 and 26. fiipaced from the chain 27 is a similar chain 28. Un the shaft 17 is a sprocket 29 similar to the sprocket 26, excepting that it has a grooved hub 30, which is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 17.

A two-part bearing or journal member 31 is mounted. on the hub 30 to permit free rotation of said hub.

A radius rod angle iron 2 1 is connected with the bearing 31 and extends rearwardly parallel with the angle iron bar 2 1. At its rear end, the bar 2 1 is connected with a casting 21 similar to the casting 21 in the same manner that the bar 24.- is connected with the casting 21. The casting 21 supports a spindle 22 on which is a sprocket 23 laterally opposite the sprocket 23 and aligned with the sprocket 29. The castings 21 and 21 have vertical slots 21. Bolts 21 are extended through the slots 21 and 32, referred to below, for supporting the castings 21 and 21 on the brackets 18 and 31.

The chain 28 travels on the sprockets 29 and 23. The bracket 21 is supported on a bracket 31 having a horizontally elongated slot 32, similar to the slot 20 in the same way that the bracket 21 is supported on the bracket 18. The bracket 31 is connected with one member of an A-shaped frame 32, the rear ends of which are supported on the laterally movable frame member 14L of the tenoning machine.

The carrier bars 33 are pivctally supported at their rear ends on projecting frame members 34. and (See Figures 1., 2 and 3.) The member 3% is connected with the fixed frame of the tenoning machine and the bracket or member with the laterally movable portion of the tenoning machine.

On each side of the frame 15 is a trough 36 extending generally and substantially at right angles to the carrier bars 33, as shown for instance in Figure 3.

These troughs will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Upon the wall 36 of the righthand trough 36 are supports 37. A vertical, adjustable cross bar 38, shown in Figures 3 and 4, has parallel inclined slots 39. Bolts T0 are ex tended through the slots 39 and are mounted on the supports 37.

Supported on the wall of the trough 36, which supports the members 37 is an angle iron 11. A rod 12 is pivoted to the bar 38 and is slidablv extended through the flange 41 of the angle iron l1 and has its outer end screw-tlneaded to receive the nut 43, having the handle 4-91, as shown in Figure l.

adjusting the nut 43, the bar 38 can be adjusted for vertically adjusting the forward ends of the carrier bars 33.

For snugly holding the carrier bars down wardly against the adjustable bar 38, I have provided the following means:

Bracl-zets l5 extend downwardly from the respective radius rod angle bars 24 and 24: and have at their lower ends feet or extensions 45, extending toward each other.

Bolts 16 s cured to the carrier bars are extended through the extensions 45 and project downwardly below said projections substantial distances.

On the bolts 4E6 between the heads thereof and the extensions 45 are coil springs 47, which tend to pull the carrier bars 33 downwardly against the bar 38.

The extensions 45 are usually not in contact with the bars 33, but stand slightly below such bars.

lor operat the carrier chains 27 and 28, the follown means are provided:

A. yoke 4-7 has bearings 48 mounted on the shaft 11 of the tenoning machine. The yoke 47 has a bearing 49 for one end of a twopart shaft 50. The two parts of the shaft 50 are connected with a sleeve The sleeve 51 is fixed to one member of the shaft 50 and is secured to the other member by means of a shea "able pin 5'2. This connection forms a safety device.

The upper end of the shaft 50 is mounted in a caring 53 formed on a yoke 54. The yoke 54; has its arms provided with jourlit;

' nals 55 through which the shaft 17 extends.

iii

On the shaft 11 is a beveled gear 56 in mesh with a beveled gear 57 on the shaft 50. On the shaft 17 is a beveled gear 58, which meshes with abeveled gear 59 on the shaft for this transmitting power from the shaft 11 to the shaft 17 In the operation of the portion of the feeding machine above-described, power is transmitted from the shaft 11 to the shaft 17, through the beveled gears 56 and 57, the shaft 50 and the beveled gears 59 and The rotation of the shaft 17 operates the sprockets 26 and 29 and the chains 27 and 28. The chains 27' and 28 have projecting fingers or lugs 60, which travel above the level of the carrier bars 33.

Stock is fed to the carrier bars 33 from the tenoning machine and is then engaged by the fingers and carried up the carrier bars 33 to the other part of the feeding machine.

It will be understood that the size of the sprockets, the arrangement of the fingers 60, and the arrangement of the gearsfor operating the sprockets 26 and 29 are such that the chains 27 and 28 are synchronized with the chains of the tenoning machine or other means, whereby stock is fed to the carrier bars 38.

The lower ends of the chains may be readily adjusted vertically by loosening the nuts on the bolts 21 and raising or lowering the castings 21 and 21*.

Similarly, the upper ends of the carrier bar 33 may be vertically adjusted by operating the handle 44 on the nut 48, for sliding the bar 38 longitudinally.

By these adjustments of the chains 27 and 28 and the carrier bars 83, the distance between the lower stretches of the chains and the carrier bars may be varied for acconr modating the feeding machine for stock of different thicknesses.

The adjustment may be such as to make the chains inoperative, so that stock may be removed from the lower ends of the carrier bars without being operated upon by the chains 27 and 28.

This is sometimes desirable where the tenoning machine and the feeding machine are connected, but it is not desired to feed the stock through the feeding machine.

It will be seen that the lateral adjustment of the laterally movable portion of the tenoning machine carries with it the A frame 32 and the sprocket 29 and the bracket 35 for thus laterally adjusting the chain 28 and the right carrier bar 33. This adjustment is necessary for handling stock of different lengths.

The feeding reel.

Mounted between the troughs 36 above referred to is what I may call the reel or drum for handling stock.

A shaft 62 is mounted on the fran'ie 15 of the'feeding machine and extends los'igitudinally thereof between the troughs.

Mounted on the shaft 62 is a series of equi-distantly spaced reel members, comprising the pentagonal spider elements 64:. The

7 reel thus formed is rotated in either direction for discharging stock into either of the troughs 36 as may be desired.

The means for rotating the reel includes a pair of sprockets 66 and 67, shown in Figures 1 and 4 fixed on the shaft 17. On the shaft 62in line with the sprocket 66 is a sprocket 68 and on the shaft 62 in line with the sprocket 67 is a sprocket 69.

A chain 70 travels on the sprockets 67 and 69 for transmitting rotation from the shaft 17 to the sprocket 69. An idler sprocket 71 is mounted on the frame 15 in line with the sprockets 66 and 68. A chain 72 travels on the sprockets 66 and 71 and has one stretch engaged with the right-hand face or portion of the sprocket 68.

It will thus be seen that the sprockets 68 and 69 are operated in opposite directions. These sprockets 68 and 69 are rotatably but non-slidably mounted on the shaft 62.

Selectively, operatively connecting either the sprocket 69 or the sprocket 68 with. the shaft 62, there is splined in the usual way on the shaft 62, a double-faced clutch 73, having a central annular groove 74:. (See Figures 1, i and 7.)

The hubs of the sprockets 6S and 69 have clutch faces 75 for coacting' with the clutch 73.

A clutch shifting lever 7 6 is pivoted to a bracket 77 on the frame 15, as shown in Figure i, and is provided with a yoke 78 (see Figure 1) of ordinary construction for coacting with the groove 7401f the clutch 7 3.

By shifting the lever 76, the clutch 73 may be adjusted for operatively connecting either of the sprockets 68 or 69 with the clutch and with the shaft 62 for thus operating the shaft 62 in either direction from the shaft 17 It will be understood that the gearing connections for the reel are such as to cause the flat surface of the reel to be presented for receiving stock discharged from the carrier bars by the movement of the chains 27' and 28. Y

As the reel revolves, it discharges the stock carried upon its upper flat surface into one or he other of the troughs 36 depending upon the direction of rotation of the reel.

Chains 79 travel in the bottom of the troughs 36 and are operated by the means hereinafter more fully referred to.

At this time, I desire to call attention to a feature of thismachine, which enables it to do speedier work than would otherwise be possible. 5

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Sometimes two narrow pieces of stock are fed through the tenoning machine adjacent to each other and are discharged upon the carrier bars substantially at the same time. Two pieces of stock would thus be carried up the carrier bars together and discharged together upon one flat face of the reel.

Two pieces should not be carried at once upon the san e chains 79, because two pieces can not be sin'iultaneously fed to the sticking machine.

I have therefore provided the following means for separating two such pieces as they are discharged into the trough 36, one above the other on edge.

The inner walls of the troughs 36, as shown at 36*, terminate at their upper edges considerably below the upper edges of the outer walls 36 About level with the bottoms 36 of the respective troughs and near the troughs are shafts 80 extending through the machine lengthwise parallel with the reel. These shafts 80 are mounted for rotation.

Supported on the shafts 80 are a series of selector fingers 81, which at their upper ends have curved portions projecting laterally, as shown at 81, for instance in Figure 5.

The lingers 81 are arranged in opposite pairs between the successive spiders 1 of the reel. Arms 81 project below the shafts 80 and are connected by a coil spring 82.

Pivotally connected to the lever 76 is a rod 83 extending toward the discharge end of the machine.

Near the discharge end of the machine are two cam discs 8 1 spaced from each other and fixed to the shaft 62 by set screws 85. On the adjacent faces of the discs 84: are mounted rollers 86.

On the shafts 80 between the discs are slidably but non-rotatably mounted sleeves 87. On the rod 83 are mounted laterally extending arms 88. The arms 88 have rotatable connection with the sleeves 87 and are designed to slide said sleeves on the shafts 80 when the rod 83 is moved longitudinally.

The rod 83 is connected with the lever 76 by means of a link 89, which link is pivoted to the lever 76 and is also pivoted to the rod 83. The rod 83 slides in bearings 90 in the frame 15.

Projected inwardly or upwardly from the sleeves 8'? between the discs 86 are cam arms, comprising in each instance a channelshaped arm 91, having pivoted to the side thereof, as at 92, a cam arm 93. The cam arms 98 are thus mounted on the channelshaped arms 91 for lateral pivotal swinging movement.

For holding the cam arm 93 against pivotal movement between the flanges of the channel arm 91 is a bolt 9 1 secured to the arm 91. This bolt is extended through a hole. shown at 96 in dotted lines in Figure 6, which hole is large enough to allow sufficient play of the parts.

Between the head of the bolt and the cam arm 93 is a coil spring 97.

F or pressing the right-hand or left-hand series of selector lingers 81 inwardly and holding them in inoperative position, 1 provide rods 98 mounted in the frame and extending alon side the troughs and the inside thereof at the outer ends of the rods 98 are handles 99, shown in Figure 3.

On the rods 98 adjacent to one selector finger 81 on each shaft is a cam 100, so arranged that when a rod 98 is rotated to a certain position. the cams will engage the fingers and force them inwardly to inoperative position.

Normally the spring 8; tends to hold the curved portions 81 of the selector lingers 81 to position overhanging the inner wall of the adjacent trouga 36, as shown at the right-hand side of Figure In Figure 5, the rod 98 at the left-hand side of the figure is shown rotated to its position where the cams 100 hold the left-- hand series of lingers 81 in inoperative position.

1 will now describe briefly the operation of the reel.

Assuming that the stock is being carried up the carrier bars to the reel, then the lever 76 is manipulatetL for opc atively connecting the clutch 73 with the sprocket G9 or the sprocket 68, as the case may be, for rotating the reel in the direction desired to discharge stock into the proper trough 36.

hen it is cesired to discharge the stock into the other trough, the lever 76 is shifted for connecting the clutch with the other sprocket 68 or 69.

If the stock is being carried to the reel, one piece at a time, it is unnecessary to use the selector fingers 81, and they may be rendered inoperative by rotating the rods 98, for causing the cams 100 to hold the lingers 81 pressed inwardly.

If it happens that two pieces of relatively narrow stock are being carried up the carrier bars 33 with their adjacent edges together, and it is desired to separate them, when they are discharged from the reel, then the rod 98 adjacent to the trough receiving the stock moved to position with the cams 109 on that rod standing as shown in Figure 5.

The parts are so arranged that when the reel is discharging into the right-hand trough, as shown in Figure 5, the righthand cam arm will be adjacent to the rearward cam disc Sal, to-wit, the one nearest the discharge end of the machine.

If the lingers 81 are being held in inoperative position, the rollers on the disc 84 may rock the cam arm slightly, but Wlll have no further effect.

If, however, as has been stated, it is desired that the right-hand series of selector fingers be operated, then the rollers Wlll engage the right-h and cam arm 93 at proper times synchronously with the other operations of the machine for swinging the righthand fingers 81 inwardly. when the stock is discharged from the reel into the righthand trough 36, and will permit them to swing quickly outwardly on account of the action of the spring 82 in time to catch the upper member of the two pieces of stock 101, as shown in Figure 5.

The lower piece of stock will then be carried along the trough by the chain 79 and when the next roller engages the cam arm 93, the fingers 81 will be swung inwardly again for releasing the upper piece of stock 101 and dropping it to the bottom of the trough.

This occurs long enough before the next piece of stock is dropped into the trough to permit the last-mentioned piece of stock to be carried out of the way by the chains 79.

It should perhaps be noticed that the ends of the cam arms, which contact with the rollers on the cam discs 84; are so shaped as to give a quick release of the fingers, after they have been held by the cam arms in their open or inoperative position, so that they are permitted to move outwardly quickly in response to the action of the springs 82.

It will, of course. be understood that the cam on the arm 93 is of just the proper shape and that the length of the arm is just sufficient to accomplish the purposes mentioned.

The mechanism for the release of the fingers can be timed accurately by adjusting the cam discs on the shaft 62 by means of the set screws 85.

It should be mentioned too that in event the lever for reversing the reel should be moved while the reel is in stationary position and it should happen that the cam arm 93 should engage one of the rollers instead of entering the space between two successive .rollers, the cam arm will not be bent, but

will be swung on its pivot 92, until the reel is started, whereupon the spring 97 will return the cam arm to its normal position.

Discharge and feed rollers.

I will now describe the rollers which feed the stock from the troughs to the sticking machine or from the feeding machine, and in connection therewith will refer to the operating mechanism of the chains 79 in the troughs.

The feed rollers and the chains in the troughs 36 are driven from the motor 102, shown in Figure 4. On the motor shaft 103 is a belt pulley 101-, in line with a belt pulley 105 on the power shaft 106. A belt 107 travels on the pulleys 104. and 105. On the shaft 106 is a belt pulley 107 in line with a pulley 108 on the shaft 109. A belt 110 travels on the pulleys 107 and 108.

Mounted at the rear ends of the troughs 36 are sprockets 111 over which the chains 79 travel.

Spaced rearwardly from the front ends of the troughs 36 just below the troughs is a transverse shaft 112 on which are sprockets 113, which project upwardly through holes 114: in the bottoms 36 of the respective troughs 36. (See Figs. 1 and 4.)

The chains 79 travel over the sprockets 113, their upper stretches traveling on the bottoms 36.

On the shaft 112 is a sprocket 115 arranged in alignment with a sprocket 116 on the shaft 109.

Arranged forwardly with relation to the shaft 112 and below the troughs 36, a shaft 117 is mounted. in bearings 118.

. On the shaft 117 is a sprocket 119 alinged with the sprockets 116 and 113. A chain 120 travels on the sprockets 116, 113 and 119.

It will be seen that the chains 79 are operated from the sprockets 113 on the shaft 112. The motor 102 through the belt pulley 107 operates the belt pulley 105 and the shaft 106. The shaft 106 transmits rotation through the belt 110 to the pulley 108 and the shaft 109. The shaft 109 through the sprockets 116 and 115 (Figures 1 and 4) operates the shaft 112 for thereby rotating the sprockets 113.

For feeding the stock from the forward ends of the troughs. which do not have the chains 79. I provide feed rollers, the construction and operation of which will now he described.

Near the front or discharge ends of the troughs 36. there are mounted in suitable bearings 121 and 122. shafts 123. which are inclined slightly forwardlv from the vertical. so as to hold the stock securely against the bottom of the trough. and thus feed it into the sticking machine in proper relation to the bed of the sticking machine.

At the upper ends of the shafts 123 are feed rollers 124, which project through openings 125 in the inner walls of the troughs 36 a sufficient distance to engage stock traveling along those troughs.

In the lower portions of the shafts 123 are beveled gears 126, which mesh with bev-.

eled gears 127 on the shaft 117. Mounted in suitable bearings 128 spaced laterally from the bearings 122 are short upright shafts 129, connected by universal joints 130 with upwardly projecting and forwardly inclined shafts 131.

Connected with the upper ends of the shafts 131 by universal joints 132 are short shafts 133 on which are rollers 13-4, which also project through holes into the troughs 36.

For pressing the rollers inwardly yieldingly tor thus causing the ro lers to en gage stock of different thicknesses the up per end of eacl shatt 133 is jeurnalcd in one end of a pivoted bearing arm The arms 138 are pivoted to brackets on the side walls ot the troughs 36.

Projecting outwardly trom such side walls are bolts or the like 140. which slidably tend through the arms ard have coil springs 141 between the nuts thereon and the arms 138 for yieldinggly p: cssing the arms 1.38 inwardly.

Bolts 143 are mo nted in the walls of the troughs 36 and loos ly ex e ed through the arms 138 for further adr inc. them.

On the lower ends ot the aha" s 12-? are spur gears 144: meshinq with sour gears i-il" Operation.

I will now descrihe the operation of the entire feeding machine.

Stock is fed from the tenoninc; machine to the inclined carrier hers The 60 on the chains 27 and 2?. which are synchronized with relation to the chains of the tenoning machine. engage the su cessive pieces of stock and slide th up the hars 33 the upper ends thereo and discha M the stock upon the iiat surfaces of the spider 64. oi the reel.

Lateral adjustment ot the adiustahle portion of the tenoning machine carr es with it the A-shaped frame the chain 28 and the right-hand carrier bar for adius'ting the Feeding machine for stock oi different lengths.

The reel being so timed as to receive the stock upon one of its flat as tied hy the lingers 60. will then rotate either to the right or left. depending upon the adjustient of the lever 76 and the clutch 73 into one of the troughs 36.

The chains 79 then carry the S XhX along the trough to the discharge end thereof.

If it occurs that two pieces of narrow stock are being; fed to the carrier bars at one time, then the handle 99 is adjusted for rotating the rod 98 of the trough, which is receiving the stock, and rendering the cams 100 inoperative.

The adjustment of the lever 76 tor causing the reel to operate to discharge into one or the other 01 the troughs serves through the rod 83 and the arms 88 to adjust one or the other of the cam arms 93 to position to he engaged by the rollers 86 of one oi the cam discs 84.

The parts are so timed that a roller 86 will engage the cam arm for rocking the shaft and moving the selector linger 81. to inoperative position, when the stock is discharged from the reel.

The rollers 86, however, clear the cam arms 83 at such times as to permit the springs 82 to swing the operative SOlGttOl' fingers o1 outwardly to cause the portions 81 thereof to engage the uppermost oi' the two pieces or stock 101, as shown at the right-hand side of Figure 5. The lowermost piece of stock is then carried away by the chains 79, and thereafter the selector tiu- 56195 are operated to release the stock held by them. which then drops upon the chains T9 and is carried toward the discharge end of the machine.

The stock when carried to the discharge end of the machine is engaged hy the pair of rollers 124: and 13 1 and fed from the troughs 36 to the sticking machine.

lily feeding machine has a numher oi advantages.

lt provides for the automatic feeding of stock from one wood-working machine to another without the necessity for manual handling and particularly without the necessity of manual feeding to the sticking machine.

The feeding; machine is readily adjusted for receiving and handling stock of (litterent lengths or thicknesses. It can be adjusted so that stock may be ted upon the carrier bars. and the feeding machine will then he inoperative. so that the stock can he taken from the carrier bars without being operated upon by the feeding machine.

The feeding machine is readily adjustable tor feeding the stock to either of two dit- 'ent sets of the cutter heads on the sticlc out any delay in changing heads.

The feeding machine is provided with neans wherehy it is capable of handling two pieces of narrow stock received at one time tron] a tenoning machine and feeding such stock one piece at a time to a sticking machine.

lhis feeder permits the operation of either the sticker or tenoner independently of the other. This a great advantage in case of lueakdown of one machine. The sticker may be fed directly through the troughs of the feeder, or the stock may be removed from the tenoner either just as it starts up the conveyor bars or just as it is delivered on the reel. This also permits operating the two machines independently on different kinds of work at the same time.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of structure of my feeding machine without de nirting from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any such modifications or use of equivalents, as may be reasonably included within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A feeding machine having a pair of inclined carrier bars and a pair of chains above the carrier bars for advancing stock thereon, means for vertically adjusting the carrier bars at one end, and means for vertically adjusting the chains at their other ends.

2. In a feeding machine of the class described, means for receiving stoclt lying flat and advancing it transversely, and means for turning said stock on edge and advancing it longitudinally to either of two spaced operative devices.

3. In a feeding machine, means for receiving and carrying stock, a pair of stock carrying devices spaced from each other, and means for turning the stock received from said first means and discharging it upon either of said stock carrying devices.

4:. In a feeding machine, means for receiving and carrying stock, a pair of stock carrying devices spaced from each other, and means for turning the stock received from said first means and discharging it upon either of said stock carrying devices in position standing on edge.

5. In a feeding machine, means for receiving and advancing stock, a pair of spaced troughs, conveying means in said troughs, and means for receiving stock from said first means, turning it on edge, and discharging it into either of said troughs.

6. In a feeding machine, a multiple-sided revolving reel, stock advancing devices on opposite sides of said reel, means for feeding stock to the reel, and means for rotating the reel in either direction for discharging stock upon either of said stock adVanc in devices.

In a feeding machine, a multiple-sided reel, means for feeding stock to'said reel, trougl'is on the opposite sides of said reel, means for rotating said reel in either direction for discharging stock into either of said troughs, and means for advancing stock lengthwise of the troughs. I

8. In a feeding machine, a pair of spaced troughs, means for advancing stock in said troughs, and means for selectively feeding stock to either of said troughs from a source of supply.

9. In a feeding machine, a pair of stock advancing devices spaced laterally from each other, a stock carrying mechanism, and means interposed between said stock carry- 111g mechanism and said stock advancing devices for selectively carrying the stock from the stock carrying mechanism to either of the stock advancing devices.

10. In a feeding machine, spaced pairs of feed rollers, a stock carrying mechanism, and means for selectively carrying stock from the stock feeding mechanism to either pair of rollers.

11. In a feeding machine, a stock carrying mechanism, spaced pairs of feed rollers, devices for advancing stock to the respective pairs of feed rollers, and means interposed between said last devices and the stock carrying mechanism, whereby stock may be transferred selectively from the stock carrying mechanism to either of said advancing devices.

12. In a feeding machine, a trough, a conveyor chain traveling on the bottom of the trough part of the length thereof, and feed rollers for taking stock from said chain, advancing it and pressing it against said bottom.

13. In a feeding machine, a trough, a conveyor chain traveling on the bottom of the trough part of the length thereof, and feed rollers for taking stock from said chain, advancing it and pressing it against said bottom, said rollers having yielding relative movement.

Des Moines, Iowa, April 15, 1924.

SERN MADSEN. 

